The Bratton Family

Portrait and Biographical Record of Kankakee County, Illinois
Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago, 1893.
pp. 613, 614.

Luther B. Bratton is a leading and influential farmer of Limestone township. He resides on section 27, where he has made his home for a number of years. His landed possessions now comprise five hundred and twenty acres, all situated in this township, and his home farm is one of the best improved in this locallity. We there see well tilled fields, whose great fertillity indicates there care and supervisionof a thrifty owner, while the many improvements on the place indicate his progressive spirit. A desirable farm is the home of our subject.

Mr. Bratton was born on the 5th of August, 1833, in Daviess County, Ind., and comes of an old New England family. His father, John L. Bratton was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1794, but his ancestors lived in the East. He became one of the pioneer settlers of the Hoosier state, and there spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1841 at the age of forty-seven years. His wife, Mary Bratton, was also a native of Kentucky, born of New England parentage, and died in this county at the age of about sixty-five years. their family numbered six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom Luther was fifth in order of birth.

We now take up our subject's personal history, knowing that it will prove of interest to many of our readers, for he is widely and favorably known in this county. Under the parental roof the days of his boyhood and youth were passed, and the educational privileges he received were those afforded by the common schools. At the age of twenty-three he left home, and since that time has been dependent on his own resources, so whatever success he has acheived in life is due to his own efforts. He had quite a small capital, $1 for each year that he had lived. He first went to Minnesota and took up a homestead near Mankato, upon which he resided for about a year. He then left that place and came to Kankakee County, where he purchased one hundred and twenty aces of partially improved land.

On the 12th of January of the following year, when he was twenty-five years of age, Mr. Bratton married Miss Ursula E. Bowdle, who was then living in Kankakee County. She was born, however in Allen county, Ohio, August 25th 1836, and was the only daughter of Henry W. and Catherine (Rust) Bowdle, although they had two sons. Her parents were both natives of the Buckeye state, but their ancestors had lived in New England for several generations. Mr. Bowdle came with his family to Kankakee county in an early day and the daughter received a good education in the public schools. She is a lady of many excellencies of character, and is held in high esteem. Unto Mr. and Mrs Bratton have been born nine chldren as follows: Katie May; Jessie B., who died at the age of twenty-four years; Grace E., wife of Edgar J. Smith, a prosperous farmer of this county; Ruby; Cora E., now Mrs. Micheal Falter (see Mr. George Falter's biography); Luther B., who is now attending the Normal College of Valparaiso, Ind.; Walter G., Henry Ray and Maudie E.

In his social relations, Mr. Bratton is a Mason, holding membership with the Kankakee Lodge No. 389, A. F. & A. M. In politics, he has been a Republican since the birth of that party. His first Presidential vote was cast for Millard Fillmore. For three years he filled the office of Road Commissioner, and for the long period of twenty-two years has been a school director. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend, and he does all in his power for the schools and their advancement. He is recognised as a valued citizen of the community, for he has ever manifested a commendable interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the town and county, and his aid has never been withheld from any worthy enterprise calculated to promote the general welfare.

Kankakee Daily Republican
June 25, 1917 Monday
Page 1,3

Noble Woman and Pioneer is Summoned
Mrs. Ursula Bratton Called to join the Great Majority.
A Most Useful Life
Came to this Vicinity Before the City of Kankakee was Thought of and Here Ever Since.

Death claimed one of the best known pioneer women of this part of the state when Mrs. Ursula Bratton passed away at her home, 789 East Court St. at 8:30 Saturday evening. Mrs. Bratton had been in poor health, due to advanced age, having past her eightieth milestone.

The end came peacefully to the aged lady and her last moments were spent in full consciousness with her children around her.

Mrs. Ursula E. Bratton was born in Lima, Allen county, Ohio August 25 1836, being the only daughter of Henry W. and Catherine Bowdle. When eight years old she immigrated with her parents to Illinois, who in 1844 settled on the prairie about three miles northwest of the village of Bourbonnais. During the autumn and winter of their arrival, the father hewed out logs for his home on the banks of the Kankakee River. Here she saw deer roam the prairie and Indian Camps among the forest. She well remembered Hiabbona, chief of his tribe, and other Indians.

The journey from Ohio was made by wagon nine years before the Illinois Central Railroad was constructed and the city of Kankakee was not yet thought of. She received her education in the public schools and united in marriage in early life with Luther B. Bratton. In 1866 they purchased a home in Limestone in which she lived until last March when she moved to the residence on East Court Street, this city, where she spent the last days with her children near her. Here she resided until she passed away June 23, 1917 at 8:30 p.m. at the age of 80 years, nine months and 28 days. Mr. Bratton departed this life in 1903.

Nine Children
To them were born nine children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Six remain: Katie M., Mrs. Cora E. Falter, Luther B., Walter G., H. Ray, and Maude E. to mourn her departure. Edith E. Smith, a grand daughter was also a member of her household. Three daughters: Jessie B., Grace E., and Ruby have preceded her in death.

In Early life she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and remained a Christian with faith in her Savior to the end. She performed her service in the home, where she was a devoted mother and with unflinching courage reared her children with unselfish devotion. Her kindness, gentleness, and generosity was regarded by the high esteem in which she was held by her friends and neighbors.

She had been in poor health for about a year and having been spared more than her allotted time, understood her position perfectly, fully realizing that the end was rapidly approaching. She was conscious and spoke with those about her to the very last and was willing and ready to go when the Lord called her.

The country owes much to such noble womanhood for their struggle in the settlement of the prairie of Illinois. Few remain to recall the hardships, trials, and vicissitudes undertaken by a generation which has passed away . Mrs. Bratton performed her part with Christian fortitude, unswerving loyalty to her hearthstone and devotion to her family, which in the day in which she lived was considered the highest and noblest service a woman could render and we may well ponder whether in our day, any better service can be offered.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 Tuesday afternoon at the home, 789 East Court St. Rev David Creighton will officiate and the burial will be at Mound Grove.

You might wish to check out Steve Bratton's Bratton Worldwide Clan Home Page
To get in contact with a researcher for this family, please contact Lee Hollenbeck.

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